On December 16, 2011, Aiko signed a recording contract with American record producer No I.D.'s record label Artium, distributed through Def Jam Recordings. She has been described as having gentle and pop-tinged vocals. [Tyler Antonius]
Jhené Aiko was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Christina Yamamoto and Dr. Karamo Chilombo (birth name Greg Barnes), a pediatrician. She is of mixed race background—her mother is of Japanese, Spanish, and Dominican descent, while her father is of African American, Yaqui, Choctaw, Cherokee, Navajo, and German Jewish descent. She often states her ethnicity as "Japanese, African American, Native American, etc." based on percentages but identifies with all parts of her heritage. Aiko has also stated that she has French ancestry and has stated regarding her ancestry, "I’m a quarter Japanese. That’s the only percentage I know for sure because it’s my grandfather's. And then everyone else is pretty much like mixed." Her older sisters Miyoko and Jamila were in the R&B group Gyrl and toured with Immature, who were signed to MCA/Silas Records. This led to Jhené’s first meeting with producer Chris Stokes when she was five years old, and eventually he heard her sing. When B2K signed with Epic Records, Jhené was signed as well. She served as the opening act for B2K on their Scream Tour 3.
Aiko began her musical career contributing vocals to several B2K releases in 2002. She featured on tracks five through eight of the R&B group's remix album B2K: The Remixes - Volume 1. "Santa Baby", a cover she recorded, was also featured on their album Santa Hooked Me Up and she appeared as a guest vocalist on the song "Tease" from Pandemonium!. Her song "Dog" appeared as a bonus track.
Aiko also appeared in numerous music videos including O'Ryan's debut video, "Take It Slow", B2K's debut video "Uh Huh" and "Why I Love You", P.Y.T.'s "Same Ol' Same Ol' (Remix)" featuring Sarai, Play's "M.A.S.T.E.R. (Part 2)" featuring Lil' Fizz video and Morgan Smith's 2004 video "Blow Ya Whistle". Jhené also has songs featured on the soundtracks of Barbershop, The Master of Disguise, You Got Served, The Proud Family, and Byou. She released a video for her single "NO L.O.V.E" (re-recorded from Tha' Rayne version in 2002) which debuted on BET's 106 & Park when she was 15 years old.
Aiko was set to release her debut album, then-titled My Name Is Jhené, however the album was never released due to tension at the record label Epic, which ultimately led to Aiko asking to be released from the label. She then began to focus on school and continue her education.
In 2007, she made a return to music, in an interview she spoke on the choice saying “Shortly before I conceived my daughter, I stepped back into the field and took a meeting with a label head. In this meeting, I was innocently told, to ‘sell’ myself when walking into these meetings. “That’s when I decided I would ‘sail’ myself rather than sell myself.” Aiko released a mixtape on March 16, 2011 entitled Sailing Soul(s) via her official website, JheneAiko.com. All the songs on the mixtape were written by her, except “July” which was written by Micah Powell and most of the songs were produced by Fisticuffs, except “July” and “You vs Them” which were produced by Bei Maejor, “Real Now” which was produced by Roosevelt, “Do Better” which was produced by J. Lbs and “Growing Apart” which was produced by Tae Beast. The album's artwork was shot by photographer Jay 3. The mixtape also features collaborations from Miguel, Drake, and Kanye West, as well as others.
To promote the mixtape Aiko was joined by Grammy-nominated R&B singer Miguel on a one-off free secret tour on Sunday, July 15. The free tickets were given away at the Key Club box office on July 6 from 11AM-5PM on a first-come, first-served basis. The concert started at 7:00pm and finished as 9:30pm, lasting a duration of two and a half hours. On October 21, 2012 Aiko released a music video for the song "My Mine". Aiko also released a video for the mixtapes second track "Stranger". Datpiff certified the mixtape gold with downloads of 100,000. In 2011, she also began working closely with artists from Carson-based independent record label Top Dawg Entertainment such as Schoolboy Q and Ab-Soul.
In 2012, Aiko met with No I.D., record producer and vice president of A&R at Def Jam, who ended up signing Aiko to his Artium Records imprint through Def Jam. Aiko released the track "3:16AM" which was made available for digital download on iTunes September 4, 2012. The song was released as the first single from Sail Out. In 2012, Aiko was also the opening act on the highly anticipated “Life Is Good/Black Rage” concert tour headlined by fellow American artists, rapper Nas and singer-songwriter Lauryn Hill. In June 2013, Aiko was featured on the Big Sean song "Beware", which ended up reaching the Top 40 in the United States. This was her first song to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100. In October 2013, it was revealed Jhené Aiko would open for Canadian rapper Drake on his Would You like a Tour? concert tour. She had previously collaborated with Drake on his third album Nothing Was the Same (2013), lending her vocals on the tracks "Wu-Tang Forever" and "From Time".
Aiko then released her debut EP Sail Out, on November 12, 2013. "Bed Peace" featuring Childish Gambino was released as the album's second single on September 17, 2013. The single's artwork was inspired by John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Bed-Ins for Peace protest against the Vietnam War. The EP features guest appearances from American rappers Vince Staples, Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar, and Ab-Soul. The EP debuted at number eight on the US Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 34,000 copies. On January 14, 2014, "The Worst" was serviced to rhythmic contemporary radio in the United States as the album's third single. On May 2, 2014 "The Worst" rose from three to one on the airplay Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop, in doing so she became the first female artist to top the chart as a lead with a debut single since Jazmine Sullivan reached the same feat with "Need U Bad" in 2008. "The Worst" also rose forty seven to forty three on the Hot 100. The song peaked on the US Billboard Hot 100 at forty-three, becoming Aiko's first solo release to chart in the region, the song also peaked at number eleven on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
On January 18, 2014, Aiko appeared on Saturday Night Live performing the song "From Time", with the episode's guest host, Drake. In a January 2014 interview with Vibe, Aiko announced her debut studio album Souled Out would be released in May 2014. However the album would be delayed. On March 16, 2014, Aiko premiered a song titled "My Afternoon Dream," along with an accompanying music video directed by Aiko and Krissy. It has yet to be revealed if the song, produced by Key Wane, will feature on the album.
On June 23, 2014, Aiko posted the cover art and a snippet of Souled Out's first single, titled "To Love & Die", on her official Instagram page. The single's artwork was described as "space-y" by Adelle Platon of Vibe magazine. The song was released for digital download on iTunes, the following day. On June 26, 2014, Canadian singer-songwriter The Weeknd, announced he would be headlining the "King of the Fall Tour", essentially a mini-tour across America in September / October 2014, the tour will consist of four shows and start on 19 September 2014 in New York, at the Barclays Center and end on October 10 in San Francisco, at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. Aiko and frequent collaborator Schoolboy Q, were confirmed as the tour's supporting acts.
Aiko is a Christian, having been baptized when she was 16 at the evangelical Pentecostal Foursquare Church. At the age of 20, Aiko became pregnant by American R&B singer O'Ryan and gave birth to her daughter Namiko on November 19, 2008. Before losing her brother Miyagi to cancer on July 19, 2012, Aiko recorded "For My Brother" on her laptop, which was initially intended only for her brother's ears. He died soon after hearing the record. On August 27, 2013, Aiko was involved in a car accident in Los Angeles along with her daughter Namiko, older sister Miyoko, and her daughter's father O'Ryan. Aiko suffered a broken wrist, chipped tooth and had stitches in her chin. Her daughter, however, was unharmed in the accident.
Picture Perfect
Jhené Aiko Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Picture perfect, you are
Picture perfect to me
So I keep you in a frame
Keep that frame in my brain
When I don't want to see
What is in front of me
Too perfect of a thing
Too a perfect, you're a dream
Too good to touch
Too good, too much
Much too perfect to be reality
Picture perfect to me
Picture perfect
You and perfect me, I am and we are free
We are pure and we are sure
And we're together how it was
How we were born to be
I remember still
I do see you still
Perfectly
The lyrics to Jhené Aiko's song "Picture Perfect" discuss the idea of an idealized love or relationship that exists only in one's imagination. The repetition of the phrase "picture perfect" throughout the song emphasizes the idea that this person is seen as flawless and ideal in the eyes of the singer. The line "So I keep you in a frame, Keep that frame in my brain" suggests that the singer holds onto this perfect image of their loved one, almost like a mental picture or memory.
The lyrics imply that the singer relies on this perfect image to escape from the realities or flaws of their current situation. There is a sense of longing and yearning for this perfect love that may not actually exist in reality. The line "Too perfect of a thing, Too a perfect, you're a dream" highlights the idea that this kind of perfection feels too good to be true.
Despite acknowledging that this perfect love may not be a reality, the singer still sees this person as perfect. The final lines "We are pure and we are sure, And we're together how it was, How we were born to be" indicate a nostalgia for a previous time when things felt perfect and effortless. The singer also emphasizes that they still see this person perfectly, reinforcing the idea that the image in their mind remains unchanged.
Overall, "Picture Perfect" explores the contrast between an idealized love and the reality of flawed relationships, highlighting the bittersweet emotions that can arise when one holds onto an unattainable image of perfection.
Line by Line Meaning
Picture perfect, you are
You embody perfection
Picture perfect, you are
You are a flawless representation
Picture perfect to me
In my eyes, you are the epitome of perfection
So I keep you in a frame
I treasure and cherish you
Keep that frame in my brain
You occupy a special place in my mind
When I don't want to see
During times when I want to escape reality
What is in front of me
The harsh realities of life
I, I do see you perfectly
I see you with absolute clarity and flawlessness
Too perfect of a thing
Your perfection is almost unattainable
Too a perfect, you're a dream
You are so perfect that you seem like a dream
Too good to touch
You are beyond reach or grasp
Too good, too much
Your perfection is overwhelming
Much too perfect to be reality
You are too perfect to exist in the real world
You and perfect me, I am and we are free
Both of us, with our individual perfections, are liberated
We are pure and we are sure
We are untainted and confident
And we're together how it was
We are united just as we were meant to be
How we were born to be
Our connection is innate and destined
I remember still
I still vividly recall
I do see you still
I continue to perceive you with clarity
Perfectly
In all your flawlessness
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jhene Aiko Efuru Chilombo, Julian-Quan Viet Le
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@esayaht7854
Picture perfect, you are
Picture perfect, you are
Picture perfect to me
So I keep you in a frame
Keep that frame in my brain
When I don't want to see
What is in front of me
I, I do see you perfectly
Too perfect of a thing
Too perfect, you're a dream
Too good to touch
Too good,too much
Much too perfect to be reality
Picture perfect to me
Picture perfect
You are perfect me, I am and we are free
We are fury and we are sorrow and we're together how it was
How we were born to be
I remember still
I do see you still
Perfectly
@abitofeverythingwithtiffli6153
It's like she's singing straight from her soul 😭 you're truly blessed Jhene 🙏❤️
@Blvefso
Her music is beautiful !!!❤️❤️❤️
@esayaht7854
Picture perfect, you are
Picture perfect, you are
Picture perfect to me
So I keep you in a frame
Keep that frame in my brain
When I don't want to see
What is in front of me
I, I do see you perfectly
Too perfect of a thing
Too perfect, you're a dream
Too good to touch
Too good,too much
Much too perfect to be reality
Picture perfect to me
Picture perfect
You are perfect me, I am and we are free
We are fury and we are sorrow and we're together how it was
How we were born to be
I remember still
I do see you still
Perfectly
@kaylafaundez9432
This album is stupidly good. This SONG IS ONE OF MY FAVS HER VOICE IS ANGELIC I CANNNOOTOTNDJDJDBDH
@elissandrabenitezvalera329
This is my fav song of her too. Gives me so much peace.😍😍😍
@QueenNajwa
My best friend died the year this album came out and this song MY GOODNESS, I don’t think I would have made it the way I did had I not had this song!! Such a therapeutic voice
@NB-jp3rh
Jhené is an Angel 😇 Her voice pure all the scars in my body.. she has the purest heart ❤
@LiveLaughLoveSnow128
This Song is So Great❤️
@shamiahdimes2408
it’s currently 3:04 as i write .. no one may ever read this nor see it 🙃 but still i shall write . jhené calms me . calms my hearts & soul . i am broken 💔 broken in pieces. my soul ache for a love no one can seem to give me on some nights i cry 😢 and cry to i can’t nomore . no one understands me i thought they did but they don’t . i am picture perfect but yet i am broken and deeply depressed no i don’t want talk about it no i can’t explain my hurt 😞 it’s just so much and i am just BROKEN 🥺 no one even sees it but it’s fine because i’m picture perfect so how can they ? my act is so strong you’ll never know but yes i am very broken . i can feel my heart breaking.
@annestacialottering817
the love you're looking for outside, look for it on the inside. once you find it, whatever else is for you, will find you effortlessly. sending you love & light sis ❤